Greg Abbott issues update on Texas THC debate: “Must act now”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to “act now” to protect the state’s children after vetoing legislation that would have banned cannabis-derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products across Texas.

Abbott said Texas does not have time for a “protracted legal fight” that may have arisen from Texas Senate Bill 3 (S.B. 3), which he vetoed on Sunday.

Commenting on his decision, Abbott wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday: “To be clear, the Arkansas law differs from S.B. 3 in legally consequential ways. Unlike the Texas bill, Arkansas’ law did not ban ‘any amount’ of a cannabinoid, it expressly permitted hemp farming consistent with federal law, and it carved out interstate transportation. Those are three legal concerns I raised about S.B. 3 that do not exist in the Arkansas law.

“Even though the Arkansas law was not plagued with the same legal defects as the Texas bill, it still was unenforced for two years and will be further tied up in court for years to come. I vetoed the Texas bill because we do not have time for a protracted legal fight – we must act now to keep Texas children safe. That process begins next month.”

This is a breaking story. More to follow.